All correspondence and important updates can be found here.

UPDATED 10/16/08

Witte Travel and Tours has extended the promotional period for our South Africa Tour and the new deadline is JANUARY 30, 2009.  All registration forms & checks must reach me by that date.  Thank you to all who have signed-up so far.  We're looking forward to adding a few more singers and marimba players so we can go next summer!

Directors & members of the Boulder Chorale and Kutandara Marimba have all been working very hard to prepare for the premiere performance of Randy McIntosh's Misa Tariro - Mass of Hope.  The concert will take place on November 8 & 9, 2008 (details below).  It is an incredible new work and to have the opportunity to sing it in South Africa would be a real honor and privilege.  We've been in contact with a marimba builder near Cape Town who will build the set of marimbas for our tour.  At the end of our tour, we will donate the marimbas to a school there.  We are remaining hopeful that this tour will happen!! 

re:lease
Misa Tariro - World Premiere
Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 at 4:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, Boulder MAP
A compelling new work of power and beauty, commissioned by the Boulder Chorale, R. Seaton McIntosh's Misa Tariro (Mass of Hope) combines texts of the traditional Latin mass with sacred Shona poetry.  In performances dedicated to the plight of those living with AIDS in Africa, Kutandara Marimba will combine with 120 voices of the Concert Chorale for these premiere performances
To buy tickets visit www.boulderchorale.org or call 303-554-7692

Tariro!

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The September 16th deadline is approaching and people have already been sending in their applications.  If you plan to join us, make sure to get your applications & deposits in soon!!  Remember, there is an upper limit of 70 people for this tour and participants who get their form and deposit turned in by the deadline will be entered into a drawing for a certificate good for $250.00 off their South African tour!

A few questions have come up in the past couple of weeks and I thought it would be good to share those and the answers with you.

Q:  We aren't sure yet, if we want to purchase trip insurance, what should we do?
A:  You can decline and later send an email requesting it.  The cost for the insurance is a bit higher if you do not sign up for it immediately.  Please make note on your form telling that you will make your decision later.

Q:  We would like to extend our trip beyond the planned tour.  What do we do?
A:  Those who require special arrangements should include their requests in the space on page two of your application forms.  Witte Travel & Tours won't work on these arrangements until after they have received the applications.  If you arrange your own flights WItte Travel & Tours can give you a land-only cost, but will not have that information until flights are confirmed. 

Q:  We haven't decided if we want to do the Robben Island or Cape Wineland excursions yet.  Can we make that decision later?
A:  If you are unsure about an excursion at this point, you can make a note on your application that you have not decided yet and then can contact Witte Travel later if you want to add either excursion. 

I will be out of the country from Sept. 8-26 and unable to check email.  If you have questions that need immediate answers, please write to Johannes Witte from Witte Travel & Tours at johannesw@wittetravel.com

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REGISTRATION INFORMATION Applications for the South Africa tour have started to come in. We want all who would like to tour with us to be able to do so, but we have to cap this tour at 70 participants. Because of that, we will be giving priority to current performing members of Boulder Chorale or Kutandara. Places will be filled in the order that forms & checks are received. All others beyond that will go on a waiting list. After the September 16th deadline, we will know how many openings will be available. REMINDER: Participants who get their form and deposit turned in by the deadline will be entered into a drawing for a certificate good for $250.00 off their South African tour!!! Click here for REGISTRATION FORM.

IMPORTANT PASSPORT INFORMATION When you travel to South Africa, you will need to be sure to have at LEAST TWO BLANK pages in your passport. This does not include the last two pages which are for endorsements and amendments. If your passport is getting full, you can order more pages for free. Here's a link to the information. http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html
Remember your passport must be valid for 6 months following the end of the tour. Check now to be sure the expiration date is February 2010 or later.

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JUNE 18, 2008: Answers from Witte Travel to questions asked at tour presentation:
Q: There are several families interested in this tour. What type of accommodations will be available for parents with one or two children? Is the pricing any different for children? If so, what age is someone considered a child?
A: The airfare & land costs for children and adults are the same unless we are talking about babies under the age of two. We may be able to pass along some savings if a family is in a triple or quad room.  It might be wise for us to look at each family situation separately and see what we can do to pass along some savings.  When you send in the applications identify the families and we will contact our partner in SA to see what kind of savings we can pass along to each family. 

Q: How will the Home Stay visits be set-up? How many people will stay in one home?
A: If couples ask to stay with families we will make sure they are together. We will not allow any single person to stay with a family by themselves.

Q: One member expressed concern about us giving CDs as gifts because people might not have CD players or electricity. What are your thoughts on this?
A: The families with whom you will be staying have electricity and likely a CD player. It might be wise to have a back up gift if it appears there is no CD player in the home.

Q: What will the food by like on the group meals?
A: Group meals at restaurants are primarily western; many of the church meals will be a smorgasbord of familiar and maybe not as familiar food...all very tasty.   If there are vegetarians or people with special food needs please make that clear on the application form.  Even if that means writing a note stapled to the application.

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JUNE 16, 2008: We had a great turn-out at our potluck & tour presentation. If you were unable to attend and would like more information, please contact Julie Hale, tour coordinator at southafrica2009@q.com

Witte Travel will be contacted with all the questions people had at our meeting. The answers to those questions will be listed here ASAP and will be sent out in email. To add your name to our email list, please contact Julie at southafrica2009@q.com

**NOTE**
There will only be 70 spaces available for this tour, so don't miss this opportunity to find out if the tour is right for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Witte Travel FAQ and answers

1. Weather:
Capetown: Average monthly rainfall is 3 inches and the average low is 58 F and average high is 70 F

Johannesburg: Average monthly rainfall less than an inch and average low 42 F and average high is 65 F

2. Safari Conditions:  We are traveling during an excellent time of the year for viewing.   Take along binoculars and wear muted colors for the safari ride.  

3. Health Concerns:  Inoculations are not required for travel in South Africa.  It is advisable that you have updated vaccinations for TB, diphtheria, polio and tetanus.  It is also recommended, but not essential, that you have vaccinations for malaria, typhoid and hepatitis A and B.  You can also check with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) for their recommendations.

The health care system in South Africa is on par with the best care anywhere in the world.  Food and water served in the hotels and restaurants where we have scheduled meals is safe to eat and drink.  I do not recommend drinking water from the tap, please use bottled water.  Do not eat food from street vendors.

Carry basic medical supplies to deal with colds, sinuses, diarrhea etc.  Also carry hand sanitizer, deet, sunscreen, bandages, Neosporin, aspirins etc..  If you wear glasses or contacts take a extra pair of glasses.

4. Money: The local currency is the ZAR (rand).  The current exchange rate is $1.00 = 8 ZAR.   The easiest and least costly way to purchase ZAR is through an ATM.  I suggest you purchase about $50.00 worth of currency ahead of time by ordering it through your bank or via our website which has a link to purchasing foreign currency (www.wittetravel.com).
Plan on taking along a minimal $200.00 per person to cover basic out of pocket expenses.  This does not include souvenir money.

5. Tipping: The tipping for scheduled meals, porterage, tour guide and drivers are all included.  I suggest you leave 10 ZAR per day for the person cleaning your room.  If you are in a bar or restaurant independent of the tour consider leaving a 10 - 15% tip.

6. Gifts: Since some of you will be staying with host families I suggest you bring a gift for the families.  Something unique from Colorado and a CD of the Chorale and/or Kutandara.  You will meet a lot of children; take along such things as hats, t-shirts, pens, small toys to give out when appropriate.

7. Photography:  Purchase your film ahead of time since it is generally cheaper in the US.  Please ask permission when taking pictures of people.  If you get an address it is great to send them a copy of the picture. 

8. Electricity: You will need an adaptor for SA and in some cases a transformer.  The currency is 220/230 at 50 cycles per second.  If the input of your electrical instrument is 110 - 240 V you do not need a transformer. 

9. Clothing: People generally dress smart casual in the cities.  Make sure you include clothing for cooler weather as well as rainy weather, swimming suit, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, safari hat, long sleeved shirts for evening protection against mosquitoes while on safari.

10. Safety:  Be observant and do not put down purses, cameras out of your sight...even for a few seconds.  Carry passports and money in a travel pouch which you should keep around your neck inside your shirt or blouse or in a money belt.  Do not keep valuables in outside pockets of any kind.   Leave expensive jewelry at home. While at your hotel use either the room safe or the safe at the front desk.  Never carry more money on your person than what you will need for that day.  Only take along the credit/debit cards you need and leave the rest at home.  Make sure you have contact information so that you can cancel a card if necessary.  If you do not need to carry a purse or bag don't; if you do carry it put it around your neck and across your chest.  Never leave valuables lying around in your room while you are out.

11. Communication with Home:  Most of the hotels will have internet access with a few public monitors.  I suggest you contact your long distance provider for information to use your calling card in South Africa.  Many providers have an access number you dial in South Africa which connects you to your provider.  You can purchase prepaid phone cards in the US or South Africa.  If you purchase one in the US make sure you get an access number for South Africa otherwise it will not work.  Check with your cell phone service provider for rates; generally it will cost you $3.00 - $5.00 per minute.

12: Travel Documents and Airline Tickets: You will receive your final tour documents about two - four weeks prior to the departure date.  This will include flight information and departure instructions, final day-by-day itinerary, hotel contact information and other travel instructions.  Your airline ticket will likely be an e-ticket.  Since we will not be able to request airspace until 11 months prior to your return date I cannot tell you which airline we will be using.  It could be South African, Northwest/KLM, Delta, United to name a few.  Once the airline is confirmed I suggest you sign up for their mileage program and email Melody Hisko your account number so that we can communicate that to the airline. 

13: Contact with Witte Travel:  Please contact Melody Hisko (Melody@wittetravel.com) for travel related questions and making alterations in your travel schedule.  If you arrange your own flights Melody can give you a  land-only cost.  We will not have that information until flights are confirmed.

14: Insurance:  Witte Travel covers everyone for medical care and emergency evacuation due to the serious illness or death of an immediate family member back home under a secondary policy.  This policy only covers those individuals who do not have coverage under their own policies.  Please see the terms and conditions in the tour brochure for a comprehensive travel protection coverage, which includes cancellation insurance, available through Trip Mate.

15: Accommodations: During our time in Cape Town you are in a hotel based on double occupancy unless you request a single supplement (see terms and conditions).  During our stay in Pilanesberg you will be in a chalet with room for 4 - 6 people depending on the size of the chalet.  You will have your own room based on double occupancy but you may need to share a bathroom.   While in Johannesburg we will stay at the Achterberg Conference Center in dormitory rooms divided by sex.  We will have limited private rooms based on double occupancy at the Sterkfontein Heritage Hotel and at the Achterberg Conference Center for about 40 persons.  The priority will be given to persons with special needs.  You have the option to stay with host families in Soweto.

16. Church Connections:  We will be singing at the Sarepta Uniting Reformed Church outside of Cape Town.  This is a mixed race congregation (colored) and belongs to a church body which was formed, following the end of apartheid, of white, black and colored congregations.  Uniting Reformed Church is similar to Presbyterian USA.  The church hosting us in Soweto is a black congregation of the same denomination.  The MES ministry is interdenominational but started and supported by Uniting Reformed congregations.  The Tapalogo Aids Clinic is operated by a Catholic Bishop.